159 Cotton Street, Philadelphia
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 159 Cotton Street have open permits or code violations?
- Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections lists 18 permits, 2 not closed, and 42 violations, 2 open.
- What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Philadelphia County?
- $832,750 for a single-unit home, per FHFA. Larger loans are jumbo loans.
- Is radon a problem here?
- EPA radon zone 1, the highest potential. Test for radon before you buy.
- What natural disasters is 159 Cotton Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated heat wave risk.
Permits and code violations
2 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 2 open violations.
- Electrical permit Mar 2026Completed
All wiring will be fished. rewire the whole house to delete knob and tube wiring on the 3rd floor from bedroom, middle bedroom, hallway, 2nd floor bathroom and reinstall the exhaust fan, front bedroom, back bedroom and provide a 15 or 20 amp ark fault breaker, hallway, 1st floor blank the unused switch by the front door, front bedroom, middle bedroom, kitchen, back porch, basement, install #6 grounding and a new ground rod, label the panel, 1st floor front exterior feed the switch, switch wire to exterior light, install box and light, install cat6 cable from 1st floor to 3rd floor
- Plumbing permit Apr 2025Completed
Correcting cross connection to correct violation from pwd. tie the toilet into the sanitary line instead of the storm line in order to correct the cross connection.
- Plumbing permit Jun 2023Expired
Replace 40 gal gas hot water heater
- General permit minor Apr 2022Expired
For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the philadelphia code, all references codes and standards, and the attached ez standard, where included. deviation from this standard shall result in permit revocation. a separate permit from the philadelphia department of streets is required for any sidewalk and street closures. all means of pedestrian protection required at the site in accordance with the philadelphia building code chapter 33 shall be in place prior to start of work.
- Plumbing permit Sep 2020Completed
Install house drain, stacks, drain lines to fixtures, water supply lines to fixtures. install 4 toilets, 4 lavs, 3 tubs, 1 kitchen sink, 1 dish washer, 1 laundy ppc 2018
- Mechanical / fuel gas permit Aug 2020Completed
Ez permit ductwork & warm-air appliances - for the installation if new ductwork, registers/grilles/diffusers, and warm-air appliances as per attached standards. deviations from these standards require submission of construction and site plans.
- Electrical permit Oct 2019Completed
200amp service complete and wire throughout switches, outlets, light fixtures & smoke detectors & low voltage wiring as per nec 2008 north district
- Fire suppression permit Oct 2019Completed
Install new fire suppression system and 1" combined service in accordance with nfpa 13d throughout the entire building. all work shall comply with the approved plans. all work shall be performed by a fire suppression contractor licensed by the city of philadelphia.
- Mechanical / fuel gas permit Oct 2019Completed
Install (2) hvac systems with ductwork. (sfd)
- Zoning permit Sep 2019Completed
For the creation of one (1) open air parking space accessory to existing single family dwelling (household living) within a semi-detached structure. size and location as shown in application and plan.
- Plumbing permit Jul 2019Completed
Install complete plumbing system for a single family dwelling; house trap , drain, fresh air inlet, area drain and conductor, water distribution service (1), interior install of risers, and waste lines and fixtures; three(3)toilets, three(3) lavs, three(3) tubs, one(1) kitchen sink, dish washer, garbage disposal, one(1)laundry box, one(1) hot water heater, as per philadelphia plumbing code.
- Administrative permit Apr 2019Completed
To amend permit# 920449 set entire building 8' back from front property line and add entry portiico no changes to original buidling envelope, size or structure, simply moved 8' back on the lot per plans
Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Highest for this area: heat wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
4 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: George M Germanovich Jr, 469 Conchester Hwy (850 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Brownfield site
450 ft
133 Grape St Hanson Associates. Former industrial land in EPA's cleanup and reuse program.
EPA ACRES Brownfields
Toxic release facility
750 ft
Richardsapex Inc and 3 more within a mile. Reports chemical releases to air, water or land to EPA each year.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory
Radon potential
High
Average indoor levels here can exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA's action level. A $15 test kit settles it before you buy.
EPA and USGS Geologic Radon Potential Map
Nearest public schools
3,300 ft
Dobson James Sch (3,300 ft), Cook-Wissahickon Sch (4,100 ft), Roxborough HS (4,200 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Conforming loan limit 2026
$832,750
Philadelphia County. Mortgages up to this amount qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing. Above it, the loan is a jumbo with stricter terms.
FHFA Conforming Loan Limit Values, one-unit
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More on Cotton Street
All addressesViewing recommendations
What's worth checking in person before deciding.
- Test water pressure and temperature at the tap, in the bathroom and kitchen, for at least a minute.
- This is a house, not an apartment. Check the lot boundaries, car access, and how water drains from the yard after rain, including whether the neighboring lot sits higher and could send water toward the property.
- Knock on a neighboring gate and ask about noise, pets, flooding, or other issues common in the area.
- Check the sewer connection (public network or septic tank) and the water source (public network or well), including pressure and water quality.
- Ask what heating system is in place (own boiler, wood, gas) and request the last winter month's bills.
- Schedule a viewing in the evening too, on a weekday, to see street traffic, streetlights, and how quiet the neighborhood is after 8 PM.
- Ask to see the construction documents (permit, sign-off) and check for visible cracks on the facade or in the attic/basement.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.